Obligatory Tulip Photo

It's finally spring and, in Albany, that means a lot of tulips.  While the Tulip Festival is still a few weeks away, lots of early varieties are coming up in Washington Park.  Of course, a lot of people are out taking plenty of photos in what's definitely a local rite of spring.

Spring (With The Scars of Winter)

A magnolia tree in Lincoln Park.  The recent April snow storm was not very kind to these white blossoms.

May Lilacs

Along with the ubiquitous tulips, lilacs are finally in bloom.

Yeti Sighting

You just know that spring is off to an awfully cold start when you spot the Abominal Snowman climbing a house just down the street from the Bung Factory.

It's Spring

No, not THAT sort of Spring.  Not yet!

Tulip Mania

The annual Tulip Festival will be held in Washington Park this year and the flowers are in full bloom for it.  The tulips are some of the prettiest I've seen and absolutely worth checking out (though tomorrow's weather might not be as great as today's and yesterday's).  This beautiful bloom reminds me of fresh lemonade.

Spring Fountains

The weather is finally getting warm and the fountains on the Empire State Plaza are splashing high.

Filling Up

Now that Spring is (finally) here and the main platform of the Empire State Plaza is open again, the reflecting pools are being filled this week.  It won't be long before we see the fountains on.

Croci

Spring seems a little slow in arriving this year, but croci (or crocuses, if you prefer) are gradually appearing around the city.

Branches, Buds, and Blue

It might be a bit overcast today (and they're predicting rain tomorrow), but yesterday was just wonderful.  Warm with bright blue skies and soft, light clouds.  And buds on the trees in Washington Park.

Buds On Beaver Street

It's unseasonably cold today and, earlier this morning, it was so foggy that I couldn't see across the street from my bay window. A scene like that sent me looking for pictures of spring such as these buds on Beaver Street below S. Pearl.

Early Dandelions

I know that most people consider them weeds or worse, but I like dandelions. They're like tiny suns with their bright bursts of yellow petals. The young dandelion leaves can be quite tasty and very healthy, plus the plants figure in herbal medicine.

I spotted the first dandelions of the season on Elberon Place, just across the street from the Washington Park Lake where I'd been watching ducks bob on the water. Early, but not the earliest I've seen...two years ago, I found dandelions growing near Stuyvesant Plaza in January!